LOS ANGELES (Sept. 22, 2025) – Southern California’s past takes center stage Saturday, Oct. 18, at the 20th-annual Los Angeles Archives Bazaar, a free public celebration of the region’s history. The event will feature exhibits from 80 local and regional collections, along with practical workshops and exclusive presentations by archivists, filmmakers, and preservationists.
This year’s Archives Bazaar is presented by the L.A. as Subject research alliance in partnership with the USC Libraries, the Cal State LA University Library, and the Cal State LA Pathway Programs Office. After 17 years at USC, the event will be held for the first time on the Cal State LA campus.
Carlos Rodriguez, dean of the Cal State LA University Library, welcomed the opportunity to host this year’s event.
“We are honored that the 20th-annual Archives Bazaar will be held at Cal State LA, a university with a proud history of educating and advancing Los Angeles’s diverse communities,” Rodriguez said. “Serving as the host site reflects our deep commitment to preserving and sharing the stories that define our region, and we are excited to welcome Angelenos to campus for this celebration of the diverse histories that shape Los Angeles and Southern California.”
Dr. Bianca Guzman, executive director of the Cal State LA Pathway Programs Office, highlighted the alignment between the Archives Bazaar and her office’s mission.
“Hosting this milestone 20th anniversary event at Cal State LA,” Guzman said, “underscores our commitment to creating pathways where diverse stories are not only preserved but also shared, celebrated, and passed on to future generations.”
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Archives Bazaar has always drawn its strength from the breadth and variety of its participants. Large institutions from the Getty Research Institute to the Petersen Automotive Museum will be represented, along with community groups including Boyle Heights Community Partners and the Little Tokyo Historical Society, as well as arts organizations like the Velaslavasay Panorama and private collectors like the Angelus Matchbook Club.
Dean Melissa Just of the USC Libraries noted that the move to Cal State LA emphasized the enduring spirit of collaboration behind the Bazaar.
“Every year, the Los Angeles Archives Bazaar finds another aspect of Southern
California community history to celebrate,” Just said. “Teaming up with the Cal State LA Library and Pathway Programs Office will make this year’s celebration especially meaningful and help Angelenos connect in new ways with our city’s history.”
Alejandra Gaeta, chair of the L.A. as Subject executive committee and archivist/librarian at the Autry Museum of the American West, acknowledged that the anniversary coincides with trying times for many who call the Los Angeles region home.
“This has been a tough year for many of our members and for the wider cultural community in Los Angeles,” Gaeta said. “In the past, the Archives Bazaar has been a highlight for our members so we are excited to celebrate this major milestone for L.A. as Subject. The L.A. as Subject Executive Committee is grateful for the opportunity to partner with CSULA and with the continued support of the USC Libraries, we look forward to all coming together for this annual event that highlights the diverse history and the many communities of Los Angeles, once again all in one day, all in one place.”
Researchers, journalists, history buffs and anyone interested in the region’s past will find much to discover. Attendees can browse the exhibitor tables or sit in on programs that this year highlight the theme of community:
- A panel discussion on how collectors, cultural institutions, and community archivists have responded to the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires
- A presentation of the award-winning documentary short “Oceanbone”
- An advance screening of a “Lost LA” episode exploring Southern California’s science fiction fan communities
- A talk on the first formal effort to archive Latinx theater in modern Los Angeles
The Archives Bazaar runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Golden Eagle Ballrooms at Cal State LA. Admission is free. For the full program and exhibitor list, visit laassubject.org/archives-bazaar.
